Speed reducing gear



April 9, 1929.

C. WAS'IAG SPEEDYREDUGING GEAR Original Filed April l, 1926 R. 0 V.. Mew M WN m w. e T 5 A z. mw ,Vm H E v w. s mw le w Q w, h` A 1H .h NM X \m E? ww YQ hw. .w` v 5 5 N` N `,N l Q w v25". tlieengine shaft Reissued 9, j UNI-TED lsrn'rrs Re. 317,256P

"PATENT ol-rlcu.

CHARLES `VZASEIGE, OQF RUEIL, FRANCE.

SPEED-announce GEAR.

original No. 1,619,552, dated March 1, ,1927, Serial No. 99,086, led April 1, 1926,4 and in France April 23,

1925. Application for reissue lell August 6, 1927. Serial No. 211,243. t

' The invention relates l to speed-reducing l gears, in particular to speed-reducing gears for the propellers of aircraft, of the known typel comprising a set of differential, bevel gears .in which the. engine shaft drives a toothed ring coacting with planetary. pinions mounted loose upon armssecured to the propeller shaft, the said pinions rolling upon astationary toothed ring.

lo Onefeature ofthe invention resides in t-hat themovable toothed ring, whielr rotates tojgetlier witli'the engine shaft, is axially movable, its laxialmotion being limited by a stop I pieceby means of which the engagement `of' thesaid ring with the .planetary pinions may ibe'adjnstedfv independently of 'the engine ;`-'"-.Anotl1er feature of the invention 1sthat Y `the@saidmovable toothed ring is floating upon 2o.y the engine/shaft, and is centered solely by the Veiigagement of its teeth with the teeth of the `planetary, pinions,A whereby the driving effort ywill be distributed upon several teeth,

' andthe transmission of the jarring effects of tothe gearing will be obl K "Ay further feature of this invention conslsts Y :Qin that a'spacing ring serves to connect to-A y getherL the outer ends of' the arms carrying 305 the planetary4 pinions, -thus preventmg the.

i vleirion of anyone of the arms independently f ofthe others.

' A stilly further .feature of the lnventlon re. sides in that the rear end of the propeller S shaft Vis mounted in a bearing which is d isposed within the hollow part of the engine shaft which is itself Contained within the bearing for theysaid shaft.

According to a still further feature o fA the 4o invention, means are provided whereby the lubrication is s uch that t-he oil is supplied to the centre of the propeller shaft by means fof channels formed in the bearingot1 said shaft adjacent the engine shaft, and is delivered to the several parts by means of ducts' which are so disposed that the centrifugal ,force will facilitate the oil circulation and furthermore the gear rotates in,an oil bath.

Inasruch as the movable toothed ring is axiallymovable, this provides for the adjustment of the gear-engagement of tliestationary toothed ring with the planetary pinions, independently of the engine shaft. In

short, this speed-reducingmechanism is`"`ad' justable in an entirelyindependent manner.

The appended drawing shows by way of example a speed-reducing mechanism c0111-, prising epicycloidal bevel gearing, -improved in accordance withthe invention. f

`The end of the driving shaft 1 comprises 50 an enlarged or Haring portionto which is bolted the wheel 2, the periphery of Awhich is provided with flutes; the s aid shaft is further provided with a bore for the mounting of the propeller shaft 3. This latter is mounted e5 in a bearing disposed within the part of the shaft 1 which is` supported in the bearing 5 of the latter. The propeller shaft 3 is mounted f in a second bearing which is secured to the easing 6 and comprises two circular rows of 'zol Aballs 7 and 8 adapted to receive the axial posed as'to allow acertain play and to permit 80 the wheel 10 to take a slightly eccentric and inclined position if necessary. The wheel 10 engages the planetary pinions 11 which are mounted loose on arms 12 secured to the propeller shaftj, and engage i the toothed wheel 13 which is secured to thel casing 6 of the speed reducing-mechanism; said wheel 13 may be mounted in a manner analogous to the wheel 10. `An internally fluted wheel 29-is bolted to the casing 6, andigo the wheel 13 is provided with flutes corresponding-With a certain pla to those of the wheel 29; the cont-act surface between the wheel 29 and the wheel 13 is spherical.

Since the wheel 10 can be transversely displaced, it can be brought into theeXact position required for its correct gear engagement with" the planetary pinions 11,v and it 1s centered solely by the engagement ofits teeth with the teeth of the planetary pinions. It results therefrom that, at any time, the driv ing effort is distributed upon all the teeth of. the wheel 10 which are in gear engagement with the teeth ofthe pinions 11. Moreover since the wheel 1() is floating, the vibrations of the driving shaft 1 can by no means'be transmitted to the parts of the reducing gear.

Thel axial` displacement of the toothed wheel 10 is limited in one direction by the planetary pinions 11 andl in the other by the abutment 14 against which vthe wheel 10 .is pressed, with the interposition of a ball bear- /whee1, planetary Ypinions rotatably support-edY by said driven shaft and meshing with both ing 15 Withspherical bearing surface. The sun wheels and an adju'stable'stop piece for` said abutment consistsof-a tapped ring which is screwed upon the propeller shaft and Whose position upon the shaft can thus be varied, so that the position of the Wheel 10 relatively to the said planetary pinions can also be varied.

The gear engagement of the wheel -13 with the planetary pinions is adjustedeither by varying the thickness of the spacing ring 28 or by varying its position with reference to the propeller shaft, and this by displacing the latter with refenceto the casing 6. The propeller shaft and the'movable Whee 10 are slidableiwith respect to the driving shaft 1,` and all the adjusting operations can be carriedout independently of the driving Shaft. I I "v iL y i v r A ring 16 connects together the vouter ends of the arms 12 carrying the planetary pinions 11 so as to hold the said arms and tob prevent any one of them from bending independently of the others.v A

-f The lubricating .oil is constantl-h supplied through the conduit 17 into the caring 5,

thus-oiling the bearing of the driving shaft,

and then through the ports 18 in the driving shaft, thus entering the bore of the driving shaft; the oil thus lubricats theinn'er bearing 4, Land proceeds through the ports 19 into a suitable chamber in the propeller shaft.,

In this manner, the interior of the said shaft will be filled with oil; the latter will be ycirelilated through the .ports 2,0 ,to lubricate the bearings.21-of the planetary pinions 11, being discharged thence through the port22. The

sov

vfected ,'I claim as new and Patent is: e0

oil Jwill now drop to the bottom of the 'casing 6 in which it will accumulate up to the levell of the. aperture 23 in the tight partition 2,4

separating the speed-reducing mechanism` from the vinterior of the engine crankcase. By this disposition, the mechanism will rotate in an oil bath whereby the proper lubrication is assured. The oil bath will not heat up', for litI is cooled by the' continuous supply at the central part vof the propeller shaft and by the discharge through the overflow 23.

The lubrication through the central part of the propeller shaft is entirely separated by the .plug 25, from the general lubricationof the engine shaft; this latter lubrication is efdependent from the-lubricationjof the reducin ear, from the bearing 5 onward.` aving now described my invention, what desire to secure by Letters 1. In combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaftfa differential speed reducing mechanism comprisinga rotary bevel sun vWheel adapted to be driven by said driving shaft and to slide axially with respect to thesame,I aprelatively stationary bevel sun -wheel, two cooperating series of flutes rethrough the ports 26 which are sup-A A f plied from the same source, but'is entirely inlimiting the' axial-motion of saidI rotary wheel. y p 4fm 2. .In combination witha driving shaft and. a driven shaft: a differential speed reducing mechanism-comprising arotaryA bevel sun Wheel adapted to be driven by said driving shaftsarelatively stationary bevel sun Wheel, 751,

planetary pinions rotatably supported by said driven shaft and meshing with bothl sun wheels and means whereby Vsaid rotary Wheel is floati'ngly supported upon ,said driving shaft and is centered j solely by its engage-V so ment with said pinions. 3. 4In combination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft: a differential speed reducing 4mechanism vcomprising a rotary bevel sun Wheel adapted to be driven by said driving shaft, a relatively stationary bevel sun wheel,

planetary pinions rotatably supported by" said driven shaft .and meshing with both sun wheels and a stop piece of adjustable posi-` tion, said rotary sunwheels being ioatingly 'sun Wheels and astop piece `of *adjustable position, said' rotary sun wheel being floatingly supported between said Apinions and said stop ieee. y

5'. n combination witha driving shaft and l a drivenshafta differential speed reducing mechanism comprising a rotary bevel sun spectively provided on said driving shaft and on said wheel and whereby the`1atter may be rotatedby the former, an .axial play being leftv between the flutes of saiddrivingshaft and the flutes of said Wheel so as to provide 115 for slight transverse displacements of said wheel, a relatively stationary bevel sun wheel, planetarypinions rotatably supportedby 'y said driven shaft andl meshing' with both sun wheels and a stop piece 'of adjustable posi# tion,said vrotary wheel being floatingly supported between Said pinions and said stop piece. 6. In combination with a ldriving shaft and a driven shaft, a=differential speed reducing mechanisln comprising a rotary bevel sun wheel adapted 'to bevdriven by said driving *sh-aft, a#relativelystationary bevel sun wheel,`

said driven shaft and meshing with both sun wheels anda screwthreaded ring adjiistably screwed upon said driven shaft, said rotary sun wheels and a stop piece of adjustable position, the rotary sun wheels being floatingly supported between said pinions and said stop piece while the stationary sun wheel is floatingly supported between said pinions and said casing.

8. In combination with a driving shaft, a. driven shaft and a stationary casing containing said shafts: a differential speed reducing mechanism comprising a rotary bevel sun wheel adapted to be drivenfby said driving shaft, a relatively stationary bevel sun wheel, two cooperating series of Iiutesrespectively )rovir en on Stic asin" .y j l l i l ci b and on sald station ary sun wheel and whereby the latter is prevented from rotating, an axial play being left between the flutes of'said casing and the flutes Y of said wheel so as to provide for slighttransverse displacements Iof said wheel, planetary pinions rotatably supported by said driven shaft andmeshing with both sun wheels, and a stop piece of adjustable positionl` the rotary sun wheel being floatingly supported between said pinions and said stop piece while the stationary sun wheel is floatingly supported between said pinions and saidcasing.

9. In a differential speed reducing bevel gearbetween a driving shaft and a driven shaft, vmeans for supporting the rotary sun wheel of said gear in a floating manner and whereby the position of the same is adjustable independently of said driving shaft.

10.' In a differential speed reducing bevel gear between a driving shaft and adriven shaft, means whereby both sun wheels of v said gear are supported in a float-ing manner and the positionl of each of said wheels is adjustable independently of said driving shaft. v

l1. In a differential speed reducing gear between a hollow driving shaft and a hollow driven shaft, hollow and substantially radial arms carried by said driven shaft for rotatably supporting the planetary pinions of said gear, a bearing supporting the end of the driving shaft adjacent the driven shaft,

the adjacent end of said driven shaft extend ying argially through said end of the driving shaft and being supported by the part of the same contained within said bearing, means for lubricating said bearing and ports affording successive communication for 4the lubri- `cant between said bearing, the interior 'of the driven shaft andof said arms, the bearings for said planetary pinions and the exterior of the gear and whereby the lubrication of said later bearings is vfacilitated by centrif- 12. In a differential speed reducing gear between a hollow driving shaft and a hollow driven shaft, hollow and substantially radial arlns carried by said driven shaft for rotatably supporting the planetary pinions of said gear, a bearing supporting theend of the drivingrshaft adjacent the driven shaft, the-adjacent end of said driven shaft extending axially through said end 0f the driving shaft and being supported by the part 'of-'the same contained within'sa'id bearing,

means for lubricating said bearing, ports affordmg communication between the interior of the drlven shaft and said bearing, ports 'affording communication between the interior of said arms and the bearingsfor said planetary pinions and outlet ports for the lubricant provided through said latter bearings beyond said latter ports relatively to said driven shaft.

13. In a differential speed reducing gear Vbetween a hollow driving. shaft and a hollow driven shaft, hollow and substantially radial arms carried by -said driven 4shaft for rotatably supporting the planetary pinions of said gear, a bearing supporting the end of the driving shaft adjacent the driven shaft, the adjacent end of said driven shaft extending axially through said end of the driving Y shaft and 'being supportedV by the part of the same contained within said bearing, means for supplying lubricant to said bearing, ports affording successive communication between said bearing, the interior of the driven shaft and of said arms,V the bearings for said planetary pinions and the exterior of the gear and whereby the lubrication ofy said latter bearings is facilitated by centrifugal effect and ports affording `independent communication between said bearing and the interior of the driving shaft.A

`14. In a differential speed reducing gear between a hollow driving shaft and a hollow. driven shaft, hollow and substantiallyradial arms carried by said driven shaft for rotatably silpportlng the planetary pinions of said gear, a bearing supporting the end of the driving shaft adjacent the driven shaft, i

affording successive communication for the of the driven shaft and' of said arms, the bearings for said planetary pinions and the lubricant between said bearing, the interior stationary .casing for the gear and whereby the lubricant is forced through said latter bearings by centrifugal effectand escapes i Vintosaid casing, and means whereby. the level ofthe lubricant in said casing is kept at a NifA height enabling the planetary pinions to dip thereinto at each revolution of said .driven j shaft.

15. nl Vannihilation with .a driving' haa andfa driven shaft: a. differential speed reducing mechanism comprising a rotary bevel l5 sun wheel adapted to 4Abe driven by said driving shaftand to slide axially with respect to the. saine, a relatively stationary bevel sunf wheel, and planetary pinions rotatablysupported by, said driven shaft and each mesh- .ing with both'sun wheels.

. by said driven shaft and meshing with both sun wheels, said rotary sun wheel being float]- ingly supported by said pinions.

17.4 In combination-with adriving shaftl and a Vdriven shaft: a differential speed re-j ducing niechanisincomprising a rotary bevel sunkwheeh means for positively connecting said-,driving shaft with said-wheel and where'.-

vby the latter is adapted to assumeslightly eccentric and inclinedl posit-ions relatively to the former, a relatively statiiiary bevel sun wheel, planetary pinions rotatably supported by said `driven shaft and'inesliing with both sunwheels, said rotary sun wheel being floatl .ingly supported by said pinions'. l

18. Incombination with a driving shaft and a driven shaft: a differential speed reducing mechanism comprising a rotary bevel sun wheel, two lcooperating series of flutesa respectively providedA on saidv driving shaft and on said wheel andwhcreby the latter may s be rotated by the former, an axialv play beingl left between the flutesl of said driving shaft vand the flutes of said wheel-soas toprovide for ,slight transverse displacements of said wheel, a relatively stationarybevel'sun wheel,

planetarypinions Vrotatably supported bye said driven shaft.and-meshingY with both ,sun p wheels, said rotary wheel being* iloatingly supported by said pinions. l Y 19. In combination with a driving shaft, a

is adapted toassume slightly eccentric and inclined positions relatively to said driven. f

wheel, two cooperating series of flutes resupported by said drivenl shaft and meshing shaft, planetary pinions rotatably supported by said driven shaft andmeshing with both sun wheels, the rotary sun wheel being floatingly supported by said pinions while the stationary sun Wheel is floatingly supported between -said pinions and 'said casing.

20. In'combination witlila driving shaft, a drive'n shaft and a stationary casing containing said shafts: a differential speed(reducing mechanism comprisinga' rotary bevel sun wheel adapted to be driven by said driv` ing shaft, a relatively stationary bevel su-n` spectivelyv provided on said easing and -on said stationary sun wheel and whereby Ithe latter -is preventedfrom rotating, an axial play 'being4 left between the flutes of saidl casing and tlieJ-iuteskof said wheel'so as to provide for slight transverse displacements of said wheel, ,planetary pinions rotatably with both sun Wheels; the rotary sun wheel *being floatiiigly supported by said pinions while the stationary s un vWheel is oatingly supported between said pinions and said casing. l v l r21.V']n a differential speed reducing gear, the combination with "a driving shaft, a driven shaft and a Lplanetaryvgeariiig comprising nstationary,lmovable and planetgears connecting the same, of means for supporting thesta'tionary gear adjustable radially v to engage the planet gears.-

22. In a differential speed ieducing'gear, the combination with a ldriving shaft, a driven shaftiand a planetary gearingcomprising stationary, movable and planet gears r connecting :the saine, of means whereby the stationary gear is movable radially to adjust its engagement with the planet gears. M 23. The combination with'- alined ldriving and driven shafts. of planetary gearing connecting the. saine, said gearing comprising a non-rotary gear, planet gears anda driving gear, saidl non-rotary gear and driving gear being movable' radially toladju t their engagement with the the driving stressesf y A24:.' In aspeed reduction'gea'r, the combination with a propeller shaft and adriving A, shaft alined .therewithof 'planetary speed reducing gearing mounted on said propeller shaft comprising a drivin'ggeana relatively stationarygear and planet pinions', and a flexible driving connectionfbetween said driv` driven shaft and a stationary casing contain-v ung shaft and said driving gear.

ing said shafts: a differential speed reducing mechanism comprising a rotary .sbevel sun wheel adapted to be drixlfen by said driving, shaft, a relatively stationary bevel sunwlieel, a

means for securing said stationary sun wheel.

to said casing an'd whereby the latter wheel "25. In a speed reduction gear for aircraft, the'coinbination with a propeller shaft and a driving shaft alined therewith of'planetary speed reducing gearing m'ounted on the propeller shaft comprising a relatively station" ary gear, planet pinions and a driving gear,

planetgears to distribute i its engagement with the planet pinions and shaft. A l

26. In a speed reduction gear for aircraft, the combination with a propeller shaft and a driving shaft alined therewith of planetary speed reducing gearing mounted on the propeller shaft comprising a relatively stationary gear, planet pinions anda driving gear, said stationary gear and driving gear being movable radially with respect to the propeller shaft to adjust their engagement with the planet pinions and said driving gear having iieXible driving engagement with the driving shaft. 27. In a speed reduction gear, the combination with apropellershaft `and a drivingY shaft alined therewith of planetary speed redueing gearing mounted on the propeller shaft and comprising bevel planet pinions, a

having driving engagement with the driving relatively stationary bevel gearl and a rotata-e` ble bevel gear, both gears meshing with said planet pinions, and a separable driving connection between said rotatable bevel gear and the driving shaft permitting assembly and disassembly Without disturbing the assembled speed reducing gearing.

28. In a speed reduction gear, the combination with a propeller shaft and a driving shaft alined therewith of planetary speed reducing gearing` mounted on the propeller shaft and comprising bevel planet pinions, a relatively stationary bevel gear and a rotatable bevel gear both gears meshing with said planet pinions, one of lsaidgears being movable radially to adjustits driving engagement with the planet pinions to distribute the driving stresses.

29; In aspeed reduction gear, the combi nation with' a vpropeller shaft and a driving. shaft alinedv` therewith of planetary speed reducing gearing mounted on the propeller shaft 4and comprising bevel "planet" pinions, a relatively stationary bevel gear and a rotatable bevel gear, both gears meshingr with said planet pinions, said rotatable bevel gear lhavingI driving connection with the drivin(lr shaft but being free to move to adjust its driving kengagement with the planet pinions to distribute the driving stresses.

CHARLES wAsEIeE. 

